Payment cards and devices with enhanced magnetic emulators

ABSTRACT

A payment card (e.g., credit and/or debit card) or other device (e.g., mobile telephone) is provided with a magnetic emulator operable to communicate data to a magnetic stripe read-head. Such a magnetic emulator may comprise non-magnetostrictive material such that the magnetic emulator may be fabricated in a wide variety of fabrication processes. Additionally, magnets may be added to amplify the signal of a magnetic emulator. In doing so, a magnetic emulator may provide a large amount of signal while consuming a reduced amount of electrical energy when compared to a magnetic emulator that does not include the presence of one or more magnets.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Nos. 61/016,491 filed on Dec. 24, 2007 (Docket No. JDM/019PROV), 61/026,846 filed on Feb. 7, 2008 (Docket No. JDM/019PROV2),61/027,807 filed on Feb. 11, 2008 (Docket. No. JDM/020 PROV), 61/081,003filed on Jul. 15, 2008 (Docket No. D/005 PROV), 61/086,239 filed on Aug.5, 2008 (Docket No. D/006 PROV), 61/090,423 filed on Aug. 20, 2008(Docket No. D/007 PROV), 61/097,401 filed Sep. 16, 2008 (Docket No.D/008 PROV), 61/112,766 filed on Nov. 9, 2008 (Docket No. D/009 PROV),61/117,186 filed on Nov. 23, 2008 (D/010 PROV), 61/119,366 filed on Dec.2, 2008 (Docket No. D/011 PROV), and 61/120,813 filed on Dec. 8, 2008(Docket No. D/012 PROV), all of which are hereby incorporated byreference herein in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to magnetic cards and payment systems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A card is provided, such as a credit card or security card, that maytransmit information to a magnetic stripe reader via a magneticemulator. The magnetic emulator may be, for example, a circuit thatemits electromagnetic fields operable to electrically couple with aread-head of a magnetic stripe reader such that data may be transmittedfrom the circuit to the magnetic stripe reader. The emulator may beoperated serially such that information is transmitted serially to amagnetic stripe reader. Alternatively, for example, portions of amagnetic emulator may emit different electromagnetic fields at aparticular instance such that the emulator is operated to providephysically parallel, instantaneous data. Alternatively still, a magneticmedium may be provided and a circuit may be provided to change themagnetic properties of the magnetic medium such that a magnetic stripereader is operable to read information written on the magnetic medium.

A processor may be provided on a card, or other device, that controls amagnetic emulator. The processor may be configured to operate theemulator such that the emulator transmits serial or parallelinformation. Particularly, the processor may decouple portions of anemulator from one another such that different portions of the emulatormay transmit different information (e.g., transmit data in a paralleloperation). The processor may couple portions of an emulator together(or drive the portions together) such that all portions of the emulatortransmits the same information (e.g., transmit data in a serialoperation). Alternatively, the processor may drive a portion of theemulator to transmit data using one method (e.g., serially) while theprocessor drives another portion of the emulator using a differentmethod (e.g., in parallel).

The processor may drive an emulator through a switching circuit. Theswitching circuit may control the direction and magnitude of currentthat flows through at least a portion of an emulator such that theswitching circuit controls the direction and magnitude of theelectromagnetic field created by at least that portion of the emulator.An electromagnetic field may be generated by the emulator such that theemulator is operable to electrically couple with a read-head from amagnetic stripe reader without making physical contact with theread-head. Particularly, for example, an emulator that is driven withincreased current can be operable to couple with the read-head of amagnetic stripe reader even when placed outside and within the proximityof (e.g., 0.25 inches or more) the read-head.

A processor may detect, for example, the presence of a read-head of amagnetic stripe reader by receiving signals from a magnetic stripereader detector and, in response, the processor may drive a magneticemulator in a manner that allows the emulator to couple with themagnetic stripe reader. More than one emulator may be provided on a cardor other device and a processor may drive such emulators in a variety ofdifferent manners.

A circuit may be provided on a credit card that is operable to receivedata from a device, such as a magnetic stripe. In this manner, a card,or other device, may communicate bi-directionally with a device.

An emulator may communicate with a magnetic stripe reader outside of,for example, the housing of a magnetic stripe reader. Accordingly, forexample, the emulator may be provided in devices other than cards sizedto fit inside of the reading area of a magnetic stripe reader. In otherwords, for example, the emulator may be located in a device that isthicker than a card—yet the emulator can still communicate with one ormore read-heads located in a magnetic stripe reader. Such a device maybe, for example, a security token, a wireless communications device, alaptop, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a physical lock key to ahouse and/or car, or any other device.

Dynamic information may be provided by a processor located on the card,or other device, and communicated through a magnetic emulator. Suchdynamic information may, for example, change based on time. For example,the dynamic information may be periodically encrypted differently. Oneor more displays may be located on a card, or other device, such thatthe dynamic information may be displayed to a user through the display.Buttons may be provided to accept input from a user to, for example,control the operation of the card or other device.

Dynamic information may include, for example, a dynamic number that isused as, or part of, a number for a credit card number, debit cardnumber, payment card number, and/or payment verification code. Dynamicinformation may also include, for example, a student identificationnumber or medical identification number. Dynamic information may also,for example, include alphanumeric information such that a dynamicaccount name is provided.

Read-head detectors may be provided to determine, for example, when acard is being swiped and/or when a read-head is located over aparticular portion of a card (e.g., a magnetic emulation circuit). Amagnetic emulation circuit may be provided as, for example, a coil.Portions of such a coil may be utilized to detect a read-head while inother portions of the coil may be utilized to communicate informationelectromagnetically to a read-head. Accordingly, a coil may be utilizedto detect a read-head and, after a read-head is detected, the coil maybe utilized to, for example, serially transmit information to a magneticstripe reader.

A read-head detector, or an array of read-head detectors, may be ableto, for example, determine the type of reader that the card enteredinto. For example, a read-head detector array may determine, forexample, when a motorized reader was utilized, an insertion reader wasutilized, or a user-swipe reader was utilized. Such information may bestored and communicated to a remote storage device (e.g., a remotedatabase). This stored information may be utilized to combat, forexample, card cloning. For example, if a particular number of cards(e.g., 10 more) that made consecutive purchases from a machine (e.g., anATM) detected more than one reader, then, for example, the system maymake an autonomous determination that an illegal cloning device waslocated on front of that ATM machine. If, for example, multiple cardsuse a restaurant point-of-sale terminal and determine that multiplereaders were used then, for example, a computer can make an autonomousdetermination that cloning may have occurred at the restaurant.

A material may be sandwiched between the two layers to assist inreducing the effect of the electromagnetic fields from one set of coilsegments on the side of the material opposite that set of coil segments.Such an interior material may be insulated such that the material doesnot short the coil segments. Additionally, such an interior material maybe chosen, for example, such that the material does not saturate whenthe coil is conducting current. The coil and material may run, forexample, along the location of a track of magnetic data for a paymentcard. Accordingly, a coil may be fabricated so that the coil wrapsaround an interior material.

A material may be placed and/or printed on a PCB layer and sandwichedbetween two other PCB layers. These two other layers may each includecoil segments and vias. The middle layer may also include vias such thatthe material is fabricated to be located in the center of the coil. Thematerial may take a cylindrical, rectangular, square, or any type ofshape. Four layers may also be utilized, where the coil segments areprinted on a surface of the exterior layers and one or more materialsare printed and/or placed on/between the interior layers. A material maybe a magnetic material, ferromagnetic material, ferrimagnetic material,or any type of material. For example, copper may be printed on a PCBlayer and plated with a material (e.g., nickel, iron, chrome, tin, gold,platinum, cobalt, zinc, alloys). A material, for example, may have arelative permeability multiple times greater than the permeability of avacuum. A material, for example, may have a relative permeability of 2to 100 to 25,000. A material may include, for example, a permalloy,iron, steel, ferrite, nickel or any other material (e.g., any softmagnetic material). A material may be an alloy such as a nickel-ironalloy. Such a nickel-iron alloy may include, for example, nickel (e.g.,75-85%), iron, copper, molybdenum and may be placed through one or moreannealing processes. Annealing may occur before and/or after thematerial is placed/printed on a layer of material (e.g., a PCB or otherlayer). A similar and/or different material may be placed either aboveand/or below a portion, or the entire, set of paths on a layer for acoil. Accordingly, for example, a material may be placed in the interiorof a coil as well as along a side of the coil.

Displays may be provided near user interfaces or other structures. Forexample, a display may be provided next to an LED. Cards may beprogrammed during manufacturing so that these displays may displayparticular information. Accordingly, for example, the same cardarchitecture may be utilized to provide a number of different types ofcards. A user may utilize user interfaces (e.g., mechanical orcapacitive interfaces) to change the function of the display. Forexample, codes may be entered to reconfigure the displays.Alternatively, for example, a user may utilize buttons to selectinformation to be displayed on displays associated with user interfaces.A code may associate a name of a store with a button and/or a dollaramount. For example, a display may be configured to read “Target $50.”Information may be entered manually, but also may be received by a card.For example, a user may swipe a card a second time through a magneticstripe reader and receive information via a magnetic emulator. Thisreceived information may be utilized to update information on the card(e.g., the balance of a gift card, credit account, and/or debitaccount). Information may also be received by an RFID antenna and/or ICchip located on a card and in communication with a central processor (ordistributed processors). For example, transaction information (e.g.,list of past transactions, stores where transactions occurred, amountsof transactions) and account information (e.g., balance information,bill information, amount due information) may be communicated to thecard and displayed on one or more displays.

A dynamic card may be manufactured in a variety of ways. For example, adynamic card may be printed onto a flexible material (e.g., a flexiblepolymer). Multiple layers of this material may be bonded together toform a multiple layer flexible structure. This multiple layer structuremay be laminated (e.g., via hot, warm and/or cold lamination) to form acard. The card may be programmed before or after lamination. A card maybe programmed via a direct connection between a programmer and one ormore contacts on a card. A card may be programmed via a capacitive,optical, or inductive communication via a communication link between aprogrammer and one or more communication components on a card.Accordingly, for example, a card may be laminated and capacitively,optically, or inductively programmed. After programming, a processor onthe card may be signaled to burn-out its programming communicationchannel(s) such that no further programming may occur. A portion of thecard may not be laminated. Accordingly, a programmer may connect to thisnon-laminated portion of the card. The non-laminated portion of the cardmay be laminated after programming. Alternatively, for example, thenon-laminated portion of the card may be cut after programming (e.g.,and after the processor burns-out its programming ports so the processorcannot be further programmed).

Additional external communication devices may be provided on a card. Forexample, a USB port or Wi-Fi antenna may be provided on a card. Suchadditional external communication devices may, for example, allow a userto communicate with stationary computer, laptop, or other device. Suchcommunication devices may, for example, be utilized to load gift cards,or other information (e.g., transactional or account information) from alaptop to a card or other device. A card is provided that includes alight sensor such that information can be communicated to a card vialight (e.g., via a light transmitted from a TV or website).

A magnetic emulator may produce an electromagnetic field that isoperable to be read by a magnetic stripe reader. Such a magneticemulator may include a coil. Current may be provided through such a coilsuch that an electromagnetic signal is produced. Material may be placedinside the coil with a permeability that results in an increase of theelectromagnetic signal about the exterior of the coil. Such a materialmay be, for example, a soft-magnetic material (e.g., a permalloy). Sucha soft-magnetic material may not be able to, for example, be permanentlymagnetized.

A magnetic emulator having a coil with a soft-magnetic interior may befabricated in a printed circuit board process (e.g., using an FR4 boardmaterial). In doing so, for example, the electromagnetic field locatedabout the exterior of the coil may be increased by the presence of thesoft-magnetic interior.

Magnetostrictive materials may be provided about the interior of a coil.Magnetostrictive materials may mechanically distort in response to amagnetic field. This mechanical distortion may, in turn, affect themagnetic field. Magnetic emulators are provided with coils havingmagnetostrictive interior materials. An aperture may be cut into aprinted circuit board layer such that the magnetostrictive material isoperable to mechanically distort within the aperture while in a multiplelayer printed circuit board.

Non-magnetostrictive material may be utilized as an interior materialfor a coil operable to communicate data to a magnetic stripe reader.Such a non-magnetostrictive material may have zero parts per million ofmagnetostrictive elements or may have a low amount of magnetostriction(e.g., less than 200 parts per million).

A permanent magnet may be placed about a magnetic emulator. For magneticemulators that include one or more coils, a permanent magnet may beplaced about the interior, or exterior, of one of the coils. Such apermanent magnetic may provide, for example, a bias magnetic field thatmay increase the amount of electromagnetic field present about theexterior of a coil. A bias field may also be created, for example, via acoil (e.g., a coil about a magnetic emulator).

A magnetic emulator may include one or more coils that include both asoft-magnetic material and a permanent magnet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The principles and advantages of the present invention can be moreclearly understood from the following detailed description considered inconjunction with the following drawings, in which the same referencenumerals denote the same structural elements throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is an illustration of cards constructed in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an illustration of cards constructed in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an illustration of cards constructed in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an illustration of a card and a reader constructed inaccordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an illustration of a card and a reader constructed inaccordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an illustration of a card constructed in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is an illustration of control signals and magnetic stripe readersense signals constructed in accordance with the principles of thepresent invention;

FIG. 8 is an illustration of coils constructed in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is an illustration of a card manufacturing process constructed inaccordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is an illustration of a card manufacturing process constructedin accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 11 are illustrations of cards constructed in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention;

FIG. 12 are flow charts constructed in accordance with the principles ofthe present invention;

FIG. 13 is an illustration of a card constructed in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is an illustration of a card constructed in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is an illustration of control signals constructed in accordancewith the principles of the present invention

FIG. 16 is a schematic of a drive circuit constructed in accordance withthe principles of the present invention;

FIG. 17 is an illustration of a card constructed in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention; and

FIG. 18 is an illustration of a personal electronic device constructedin accordance with the principles of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows card 100 that includes printed information 111 and 120,displays 112 and 113, and buttons 130-134. Card 100 may be, for example,a payment card such as a credit card, debit card, and/or gift card orany other type of card (e.g., security access or identification card).Payment information, such as a credit/debit card number may be providedas static information 111, dynamic information 112 and/or 113, or anycombination thereof.

For example, a particular number of digits of a credit card number(e.g., the last 3 digits) may be provided as dynamic information. Suchdynamic information may be changed periodically (e.g., once every hour).Information may be changed via, for example, encryption. Software may beprovided at, for example, the payment verification server that verifiesthe dynamic information for each period of time such that a payment canbe validated and processed for a particular user. A user may beidentified using, for example, static information that is used to form acredit card number or other static information (e.g., information 120).Additionally, identification information may be derived (e.g., embedded)in dynamic information. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate thata credit card number may have, for example, a length of 15 or 16 digits.A credit card number may also have a length of up to 19 digits. Averification code may be used with some payment systems and such averification code may be provided statically on the card or may beprovided as dynamic information. Such a verification code may beprovided on a second display located on, for example, the front or rearsurface of card 100. Alternatively, a verification code may be displayedon the same display as other dynamic information (e.g., dynamicinformation 112). A display may be, for example, a flexible electronicink display. Such a flexible electronic ink display may, for example,utilize power to change displayed information, but may not utilize powerto display information after the information is changed.

Card 150 may be provided. Card 150 may include static magnetic stripetracks 153 and 152. Magnetic emulator 151 may be included and may beoperable to electrically couple with a read-head of a magnetic stripereader. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a read-headhousing of a magnetic stripe reader may be provided with one, two, orthree active read-heads that are operable to each couple with a separatemagnetic track of information. A reader may also have more than oneread-head housing and each read-head housing may be provided with one,two, or three active read-heads that are operable to each couple with aseparate magnetic track of information. Such read-head housings may beprovided different surfaces of a magnetic stripe reader. For example,the read-head housings may be provided on opposite walls of a troughsized to accept payment cards. Accordingly, the devices on the oppositesides of the trough may be able to read a credit card regardless of thedirection that the credit card was swiped.

A magnetic emulator may be provided and may be positioned on card 150such that when card 150 is swiped through a credit card reader, themagnetic emulator passes underneath, or in the proximity of, a read-headfor a particular magnetic track. An emulator may be large enough tosimultaneously pass beneath, or in the proximity of, multipleread-heads. Information may be transmitted, for example, serially to oneor more read-heads. Information from different tracks of data may alsobe transmitted serially and the magnetic stripe reader may determine thedifferent data received by utilize the starting and/or ending sentinelsthat define the information for each track. A magnetic emulator may alsotransmit a string of leading and/or ending zeros such that a magneticreader may utilize such a string of zeros to provide self-clocking. Indoing so, for example, information may be transmitted serially at highspeeds to a magnetic stripe reader. For example, credit card informationmay be transmitted to a magnetic stripe reader at speeds up to, andgreater than, 30 kHz.

Different emulators may be provided, and positioned, on card 150 to eachcouple with a different read-head and each emulator may providedifferent track information to those different read-heads. Read-headdetectors may be utilized to detect when a read-head is over an emulatorsuch that an emulator is controlled by a processor to operate when aread-head detector detects the appropriate presence of a read-head. Indoing so, power may be saved. Additionally, the read-head detector maydetect how many read-heads are reading the card and, accordingly, onlycommunicate with the associated emulators. In doing so, additional powermay be conserved. Accordingly, an emulator may be utilized tocommunicate dynamic information to a magnetic stripe reader. Suchdynamic information may include, for example, dynamic payment cardinformation that changes based on time.

A static magnetic stripe may be provided to transmit data for one ormore tracks to a magnetic strip reader where dynamic information is notdesired. Card 150, for example, may include static magnetic track 153and static magnetic track 152. Information on static magnetic tracks 152and 153 may be encoded via a magnetic stripe encoder. Emulator 151 maybe included such that dynamic information may be communicated to amagnetic stripe reader, for example, without a magnetic stripe via anelectromagnetic signal transmitted directly from emulator 151 to aread-head of a magnetic stripe reader. Any combination of emulators andstatic magnetic tracks may be utilized for a card or device (e.g., twomagnetic emulators without any magnetic stripes).

One or more batteries, such as flexible lithium polymer batteries, maybe utilized to form card 100. Such batteries may be electrically coupledin a serial combination to provide a source of power to the variouscomponents of card 100. Alternatively, separate batteries may providepower to different components of card 100. For example, a battery mayprovide power to a processor and/or display of card 100, while anotherbattery provides a source of energy to one or more magnetic emulators ofcard 100. In doing so, for example, a processor may operate even afterthe battery that supplies power to an emulator completely discharges.Accordingly, the processor may provide information to another componentof card 100. For example, the processor may display information on adisplay to indicate to a user that the magnetic emulator is not longeroperational due to power exhaustion. Batteries may be, for example,rechargeable and contacts, or other devices, may be provided on card 100such that the battery may be recharged.

Buttons (e.g., buttons 130-134) may be provided on a card. Such buttonsmay allow a user to manually provide information to a card. For example,a user may be provided with a personal identification code (e.g., a PIN)and such a personal identification code may be required to be manuallyinputted into a card using the buttons in order for the card to operatein a particular manner. For example, the use of a magnetic emulator orthe use of a display may require a personal identification code.

By dynamically changing a portion of a user's credit card number, forexample, credit card fraud is minimized. By allowing the dynamicinformation to displayed visually to a user, and changed magnetically ona card, user behavior change is minimized (with respect to a credit cardwith completely static information). By requiring the use of a personalidentification code, the fraud associated with lost or stolen creditcards is minimized. Fraud associated with theft/loss is minimized asthird party users do not know the personal identification code needed tooperate particular aspects of a credit card with dynamic information.

FIG. 2 shows card 200. Card 200 may include, for example, staticmagnetic stripe track 203, static magnetic stripe track 201, andmagnetic emulator 202 sandwiched between read-head detectors 204 and205. A read-head detector may, for example, be provided as a circuitthat detects, for example, changes in capacitance or mechanical couplingto a conductive material. Processor 220 may be provided to, for example,receive information from read-head detectors 204 and 205 and controlemulator 202. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that processor220 may cause a current to flow through a coil of emulator 202 in adifferent direction to produce different electromagnetic fields. Thetransitions between the different electromagnetic fields may be sensedby a magnetic stripe reader as information. Accordingly, a magneticemulator may transmit data serially while a read-head is electricallycoupled with a magnetic reader.

RFID antenna 210 may be provided on card 200. Such an RFID antenna maybe operable to transmit information provided by processor 220. In doingso, for example, processor 220 may communicate with an RFID device usingRFID antenna 210 and may communicate with a magnetic stripe reader usingmagnetic emulator 202. Both RFID antenna 210 and magnetic emulator 202may be utilized to communicate payment card information (e.g., creditcard information) to a reader. Processor 240 may also be coupled todisplay 240 such that dynamic information can be displayed on display240. Button array 230 may also be coupled to processor 220 such that theoperation of card 200 may be controlled, at least in part, by manualinput received by button array 230. A smart-card chip may, for example,be included on card 200 in lieu of, or in addition to, RFID 210.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a static magnetic trackmay be a read-write track such that information may be written to amagnetic track from a magnetic stripe reader that includes a headoperable to magnetically encode data onto a magnetic track. Informationmay be written to a magnetic track as part of a payment process (e.g., acredit card or debit card transaction). Persons skilled in the art willappreciate that a static magnetic track may include a magnetic materialthat includes ferromagnetic materials that provide for flux-reversalssuch that a magnetic stripe reader can read the flux-reversals from thestatic magnetic track. Persons skilled in the art will also appreciatethat a magnetic emulator may communicate information that remains thesame from payment card transaction to payment card transaction (e.g.,static information) as well as information that changes betweentransactions (e.g., dynamic information).

A card may include magnetic emulators without, for example, including astatic magnetic track. Read-head detectors may also be provided. Personsskilled in the art will appreciate that a magnetic reader may includethe ability to read two tracks of information (e.g., may include atleast two read-heads). All of the information needed to perform afinancial transaction (e.g., a credit/debit card transaction) may beincluded on two magnetic tracks. Alternatively, all of the informationneeded to perform a financial transaction (e.g., a gift cardtransaction) may be included on one magnetic track. Accordingly,particular cards, or other devices, may include the ability, forexample, to only transmit data associated with the tracks that areneeded to complete a particular financial transaction. Persons skilledin the art will appreciate that for systems with three tracks ofinformation, the bottom two tracks may be utilized for credit cardinformation. Persons skilled in the art will also appreciate that asecure credit card transaction may be provided by only changing, forexample, one of two magnetic tracks utilized in a credit cardtransaction (for those transactions that utilize two tracks).Accordingly, one track may be a static magnetic track constructed from amagnetic material and the other track may be provided as a magneticemulator. Persons skilled in the art will also appreciate that numerousadditional fields of data may be provided on a magnetic track inaddition to a credit card number (or a security code). Dynamicinformation may be provided in such additional fields in order tocomplete a particular financial transaction. For example, suchadditional dynamic information may be numbers (or characters), encryptedwith time and synced to software, at a validating server, operable tovalidate the encrypted number for a particular period of time.

Card 250 includes emulator 251 that includes a coil operable tocommunicate data serially to a magnetic stripe reader. Similarly, forexample, emulator 251 may receive information for a magnetic stripeencoder. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a coil may runacross the length of a card such that a read-head moves along the lengthof the coil and can receive information transmitted serially from thecoil. The coil may extend into multiple tracks such that multipleread-heads receive information from the coil. Track information can besent serially (e.g., track 1 information followed by track 2information). Multiple coils may be driven separately and placed indifferent zones such that a single read-head moves from coil-to-coil(e.g., zone-to-zone) and power is conserves as only coils in aparticular zone (or zones) may be utilized to communicate informationany particular time. Separate coils may be utilized for separate tracks.Materials may be placed in the interior of each coil to assist withmanipulating the electromagnetic field produced by the coils. Materialmay be placed above or below a coil to further manipulate theelectromagnetic field produced by the coil. Switching circuitry 252 mayinclude, for example, one or more transistors that may be utilized tocontrol the direction of current via emulator 251 (e.g., the polarity ofvoltage(s) across a drive resistor). For example, a coil may be utilizedto transmit a string of information to a particular read-head. Differentcoils may transmit information at different speeds (or at the samespeed). Different coils may transmit different amounts of information.For example, three coils may be provided. The coil closest to the bottomof the long-end of a card may transmit at least 79 characters. The coilnext closest to the bottom of the long-end of a card may transmit atleast 40 characters of information. The coil next closest to the bottomof the long-end of the card may transmit at least 107 characters. One ormore coils may have different character sets (e.g., a 6-bit characterset or a 7-bit character set). The last bit in a character may include,for example, a parity bit. Additional synching information may betransmitted before and after the data information to assist withsynching a magnetic stripe reader. For example, a string of zeros may becommunicated before and after communicating primary data. Characters maybe included in the data information for other purposes such as an LRCcharacter.

FIG. 3 shows card 300 that may include a number of components. Card 300may include one or more processors 320. A processor may include, forexample, cache memory, RAM, and/or ROM. Additional memory may beprovided on card 300. For example, additional non-volatile, volatile,cache memory, RAM, and/or ROM may be provided on card 300. Battery 325may be provided on card 300. Battery 325 may be, for example, a lithiumpolymer battery and may have a thickness less than a millimeter (e.g.,approximately 0.5 mm). RFID antenna 315 may be provided on card 300 andmay communicate data to an RFID reader. Persons skilled in the art willappreciate that an RFID may be included that is a passive or activeRFID. IC chip 310 may be included on card 300 and may communicate datato an IC chip reader. Device 301 may be included to communicationinformation to a magnetic stripe reader. Device 301 may include anynumber of magnetic emulators, magnetic encoders that encode magneticstripes, and/or magnetic stripes. For example, device 301 may include amagnetic emulator for one track of magnetic data and a magnetic stripefor a second track of data. Alternatively, for example, device 301 mayinclude two emulators for separate tracks of data. An emulator may, forexample, communicate information to a read-head of a magnetic stripereader serially. One or more read-head detectors 302 may be provided todetect a read-head (or other attribute) of a magnetic stripe reader.Additional detectors may be included to detect, for example, when a cardis provided into an IC chip reader and/or an electromagnetic field froman RFID reader. Button array 330 may be provided, for example, toreceive input from a user. Button array 330 may include any number ofbuttons (e.g., 4, 5, 10, or more than 10). Button array 330 may include,for example, mechanical buttons, capacitive buttons, or any type of userinterface. One or more displays 340 may also be included. A display maybe, for example, an electronic ink display (e.g., electrochromicdisplay), LCD display, or any other type of display. Display 340 may beflexible.

Display 340 may be printed onto a layer during a printed fabricationprocess (e.g., PCB). Additionally, for example, battery 325 may beprinted onto a layer during a printed fabrication process (e.g., PCB).Similarly, a magnetic emulator may be printed onto a layer during aprinted fabrication process (e.g., PCB). Other components may be printedonto a layer during a printed fabrication process (e.g., PCB) such ascapacitive read-head detectors, and capacitive touch sensors.Accordingly, a display, battery, read-head detector, and button arraymay be printed on one or more layers that are bonded together andlaminated.

FIG. 3 shows card 350 that may include, for example, processor 353,switching circuitry 352, and emulator 351 having active region 354.Switching circuitry 352 may, for example, control the direction ofcurrent through emulator 351 in order to change the direction ofelectromagnetic fields generated by emulator 351 such that data may becommunicated serially to a magnetic stripe read-head. Persons skilled inthe art will appreciate that emulator 351 may be fabricated on a singlelayer and that region 354 may include coil segments dense enough togenerate an electromagnetic field that can be recognized by a read-headof a magnetic stripe reader.

FIG. 4 shows environment 400 that may include magnetic stripe reader410, read-head housing 440, card 420, and magnetic emulator 430.Read-head housing 440 may include any number of read-head's such as, forexample, one, two, or three read-heads. Each read-head may independentlyreceive magnetic fields from magnetic emulator 430 (or a magneticstripe, such as a magnetic stripe encoded on-card by card 420). Emulator430 may be positioned to be adjacent to any one or more read-heads ofread-head housing 440 or may be positioned to communicate information toany one or more read-heads of read-head housing 440. Persons skilled inthe art will appreciate that emulators with longer lengths may belocated within the proximity of one or more read-heads for a longerduration of time when a card is swiped. In doing so, for example, moreinformation may be transmitted from an emulator to a read-head when acard is being swiped.

FIG. 5 includes environment 500 that may include cards 520 and 530 aswell as magnetic stripe reader 510. Read-head housing 511 may beincluded on a wall of a trough of magnetic stripe reader 510. The troughmay be sized to accept cards (e.g., credit cards).

Card 520 may include emulator 521. Emulator 521 may provideelectromagnetic field 591 that may transmit through a portion of thehousing of magnetic stripe reader 510 (e.g., through a wall of a troughto get to read-head housing 511). Accordingly, card 520 may be locatedoutside of a reader—yet still be operable to communicate information toa magnetic stripe reader. A reader may be provided with an outer wall,for example, with a thickness of a quarter of an inch or more. Emulator521 can provide electromagnetic field 591 over a distance of, forexample, a quarter of an inch or more.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that card 520 may be coupledto a device via a permanent or removable cable. Such a device mayprovide power to card 520 as well as control information—such as controlinformation for emulator 530. An external source of power may beutilized, for example, to provide a larger amount of electrical energyto emulator 521 than from a source of power located within card 520.Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a car having an internalbattery may still be able to receive a cable from a device having itsown source of electrical energy.

Card 530 may be provided with emulator 531 and may electrically couplewith a read-head of magnetic stripe reader 510. Any number of emulatorsmay be provided in card 530 in any number of orientations such that theappropriate electromagnetic field may couple with a read head ofread-head housing 511 regardless of the orientation of card 720 withrespect to read-head 511. More particularly, for example, additionalread-head housings may be provided in magnetic stripe reader 510 atdifferent locations about the reader to electrically couple with aemulators in a number of different configurations. A sticker and/orguide-structures may be provided on a magnetic stripe reader to, forexample, direct a user on how to position his/her card (or other device)for contactless transmission of data (e.g., credit card data) to aread-head housing without using the trough that includes that read-headhousing.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a magnetic stripe readermay include a trough that includes two (or more) read-head housings 511located in approximately the same vertical position on a card-swipingtrough, but at different horizontal locations on opposite walls of thetrough. In doing so, for example, a magnetic stripe may be readregardless of the direction that a card having the magnetic stripe isfacing when the card is swiped. Magnetic emulator 521 may, for example,communicate magnetic fields outside both the front and read surfaces ofa card. Accordingly, a single emulator 521 may, for example, couple witha single read-head regardless of the direction the card was facing whenswiped. In doing so, for example, the costs of readers may be reduced asonly a single read-head may be need to receive information regardless ofthe direction a card is facing when swiped. Accordingly, magneticreaders do not need stickers and/or indicia to show a user the correctorientation to swipe a card through a magnetic stripe reader. An adaptermay be provided that coupled directly to a read-head that allows adevice not operable to fit in a trough to electrically couple with aread-head.

An emulator may be positioned about a surface of a card (or otherdevice), beneath a surface of a device, or centered within a card. Theorientation of a magnetic emulator in a card may provide differentmagnetic fields (e.g., different strength's of magnetic fields) outsidedifferent surfaces of a card. Persons skilled in the art will appreciatethat a magnetic emulator may be printed via PCB printing. A card mayinclude multiple flexible PCB layers and may be laminated to form a cardusing, for example, a hot and/or cold lamination. Portions of anelectronic ink display may also be fabricated on a layer during a PCBprinting process.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a number does not needto, for example, change with time. Information can change, for example,based on manual input (e.g., a button press or combination of buttonpresses). Additionally, a credit card number may be a static displaynumber and may be wholly or partially displayed by a display. Such astatic credit card number may result in the reduction of fraud if, forexample, a personal identification code is required to be entered on amanual input entry system to activate the display. Additionally, fraudassociated with card cloning may be minimized with the use of a magneticemulator activated by the correct entry on a manual input entry system.

Person skilled in the art will also appreciate that a card may be clonedby a thief, for example, when the thief puts a illegitimate credit cardreader before a legitimate credit card reader and disguising theillegitimate credit card reader. Thus, a read-head detector may detect aread-head housing and then, if a second read-head housing is detected onthe same side of the credit card, the reader may transmit information tothe second read-head that signifies that two read-head housings weredetected. In doing so, for example, a bank, or the police, may benotified of the possibility of the presence of a disguised cloningdevice. The information representative of multiple read-heads may beincluded with information that would allow a credit card number to bevalidated. As such, a server may keep track of the number of read-headhousings at each reader and, if more read-head housings are detectedthan expected, the server may contact an administrator (or the police).The server may also cause the credit card transaction to process or mayreject the credit card transaction. If the number of read-head housings(or read-heads) is the number expected by the server, the server canvalidate the payment transaction.

A payment system using dynamic numbers may, for example, be operablewith numbers that are stored outside of the period in which thosenumbers would otherwise be valid. A server may be included, for example,that accepts a dynamic credit card number, information representative ofa past credit card number, and the merchant that is requesting payment.The server may register that merchant for that saved number. The numbermay be decrypted (or otherwise validated) for that past period of time.Accordingly, the credit card transaction may be validated. Additionally,the merchant identification information may be linked to the storeddynamic credit card number for that past period of time. If the serverreceives a transaction from a different merchant with that same dynamiccredit card number for that same period of time, the server may rejectthe transaction. In doing so, a merchant may be protected from havingcredit card numbers stolen from its various storage devices. If a thiefsteals a number from a merchant's server that is associated with a pastperiod of time, that number cannot be used, for example, anywhere else.Furthermore, such a topology may, for example, allow merchants toprovide a one-click shopping, periodic billing, or any other type offeature that may utilize dynamic numbers that are stored and usedoutside of the period in which the dynamic numbers were generated.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that different emulators maybe controlled by different switching circuitry (e.g., differenttransistors).

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that multiple buttons may becoupled together to form a single-bit bus. If any button is pressed, thebus may change states and signal to the processor to utilize differentports to determine what button was pressed. In this manner, buttons maybe coupled to non-triggerable ports of a processor. Each button (or asubset of buttons) may be coupled to one or more triggerable ports of aprocessor. A port on a microprocessor may be utilized to drive anemulator in addition to, for example, receiving information from abutton. For example, once an appropriate personal identification code isreceived by a processor, the processor may utilize one or more portsthat receive information from one or more buttons to drive an emulator(e.g., for a period of time). Alternatively, for example, a magneticemulator may be coupled to its own triggerable or non-triggerableprocessor port. A card may also include a voltage regulator to, forexample, regulate power received from an internal or external source ofpower.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that any type of device maybe utilized to provide dynamic magnetic information on a card to amagnetic stripe reader. As discussed above, a magnetic encoder may beprovided that can change information on a magnetic medium where thechanged information can be detected by a magnetic stripe reader.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the direction of currentthrough magnetic circuit 650 may be changed and controlled in a patternthat is representative of magnetic stripe data. Particularly, aprocessor may, for example, transmit information through a coil bychanging the direction of the electromagnetic field generated fromemulator circuit at particular times. A change in the frequency of fieldreversals may be representative of, for example, a particular bit ofinformation (e.g., “1” or “0”).

FIG. 6 shows and 650 that includes buttons 651-664, light sources691-694, displays 852-853, permanent information 651 and 670, buttons681-684, and hologram 699. A user may be provided with a payment number.Such a payment number may be comprised of permanent data, dynamic data,or a combination of permanent and dynamic data. Dynamic data may beprovided, for example, on display 652. Display 653 may be utilized toprovide a code, which may be dynamic. Such a code may be utilized inauthorize a transaction. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate thatdisplays may display a code, payment number, or any type of data thatchanges based on time or based on use (e.g., utilizes one-time usedata). Similarly, data may be static and may not change. Accordingly,for example, a display may be utilized to display the same data whendesired such that the data may be hidden when the data is not desired tobe displayed. Buttons 651-664, 681-682, and/or 683-684 may be utilizedto signal a processor to display information on display 652, display643, or display 652 and display 653.

A Personal Identification Code (PAC) may be entered to utilize todisplay data, as well as instruct a processor to provide particulardata. For example, a particular PAC may provide one payment number(e.g., a credit card number) while a different PAC may provide adifferent payment number (e.g., a debit card number). A PAC may includea sequence of button presses (e.g., 5 particular button presses).Furthermore, a PAC may be utilized to unlock a card so that the card maybe utilized. For example, buttons 681, 682, 683, and 684 may not beutilized by a user until an appropriate PAC has been entered via buttons651-665. A number may be changed based on time (e.g., via display 652,display 653, or display 652 and display 653). Accordingly, a PAC may beentered such that the particular number associated with a particularbutton (e.g., a number associated with button 651) for a particular timeperiod (e.g., a particular day) may be displayed. One PAC may activatedisplay 652 while another PAC may activate display 653.

Light source 691 may be an LED or other source of light. Light source691 may display light each time a button associated to light source 691is pressed (e.g., buttons 661-662). Similarly, light source 692 maydisplay light each time a button associated with light source 692 ispressed (e.g., button 681 or 682). Light source 693 may display lighteach time a button associated with light source 693 is pressed (e.g.,light source 683 or 684). Light source 694 may be associated to acomponent and may display light each time that component is activated(e.g., display 653 or 652 is activated). Light sources may emit lighthaving different colors. For example, a processor may determine that aPAC provided to the processor via buttons 661-665 matches a valid PACfor performing an operation. Each button press may cause light source691 to emit light of a first color (e.g., YELLOW). The last button pressto complete the PAC, however, may cause light source 691 to emit adifferent color if the PAC is VALID (e.g., emit GREEN) yet emit anothercolor if the PAC is INVALID (e.g., emit RED). Particular areas of alaminated card may be transparent such that light from a light-sourceilluminates the transparent area.

Button 681 may be associated with a card of a particular country.Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a card may be providedwith a default number. Such a default number may include, for example,permanent data 651 and data displayed on display 652. Accordingly, aparticular PAC may display the default data on display 652.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that other default data maybe provided to other components of a card upon entry of a PAC. Forexample, particular default data (e.g., payment card number anddiscretionary data) may be communicated to a magnetic emulator (ormagnetic encoder) such that the information may be communicated to amagnetic stripe read-head. Similarly, default data (e.g., payment cardnumber and discretionary data) may be communicated to an RFID antenna,an IC chip, or an RFID antenna and an IC chip. Such default data may bedifferent for each component (e.g., magnetic encoder/emulator, RFIDantenna, IC Chip) and may be in different formats (e.g., one track ofpayment data for one magnetic emulator and another track of payment datafor another magnetic emulator).

Button 681 may cause, for example, display 652, display 653, or display652 and 653 to display data associated to button 681. Similarly, dataassociated to button 681 for other components of card 650 (e.g., amagnetic emulator, magnetic encoder, RFID antenna, and IC chip) may becommunicated through those components. Button 681 may be associatedwith, for example a particular territory (e.g., America). Accordingly,for example, information communicated via card 650 may be associatedwith a default country upon entry of a particular PAC until, forexample, a button is pressed associated with a different country. Atthis time, for example, the information communicated by card 650 maychange to the information associated with the particular button pressed.Button 692 may be provided for a country different than, for example, adefault country and a country associated with another button (e.g.,button 681). A card may not be associated with a default country suchthat, for example, a button is pressed to determine the type ofinformation communicated by a card.

Button 683 may be utilized to provide instructions to a processor that agift card is desired to be utilized via card 650. A gift code may beentered (e.g., via buttons 661-665) after button 683 is pressed suchthat a user may, for example, associate a gift card to card 650.Accordingly, card 650 may be utilized to make a gift purchase such thatthe original gift card may be thrown out (or left at home). The codeentered into card 350 may be utilized, for example, to provide aprocessor with a number to transmit via the card (e.g., next time button683 is utilized). Such a number (as well as associated data such asassociated discretionary data) may be communicated by card 650 via oneor more displays, magnetic emulators, magnetic encoders, RFID antennas,and IC chips. A code may alternatively, for example, transmit a flag(e.g., discretionary data) that a gift card is being utilized (e.g.,upon another use of button 683) such that a server may look at a sellerID number and check if there are any gift cards associated to aparticular payment card number for that seller ID number. Accordingly,for example, a user may obtain a gift card (e.g., Target gift card) andmay link that gift card to his/her payment card account (e.g., creditcard account) and may utilize a button (e.g., 683) to send a flag that agift card is desired to be utilized. A code may be entered to provide aparticular flag (e.g., a flag associated with a particular seller).Alternatively, no code may be entered and button 683 may just beutilized to generate a generic flag (e.g., causing a server to check ifthere are any linked gift cards for the account associated with theseller associated with the utilized point-of-sale reader). A user may beprovided with a particular code to be entered when utilize the gift cardat an online store (e.g., Target's online store). The online store may,for example, allow a user to enter his/her payment information (e.g.,credit card number, expiration date, name on card, zip code associatedwith card) and allow the user to select whether a gift card should beutilized associated with that card (e.g., via a radio button or otherwebpage input structure).

Button 684 may be provided. Button 684 may be utilized, for example, tomake an in-store purchase. Button 684 may activate, for example, display652 but not display 653. Code 653 may be utilized, for example, to atleast complete a particular online transaction. In not activatingdisplay 653, for example, a user that is provided with a card during anin-store purchase may not gain access to information displayed ondisplay 653. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate, for example,that the information on display 653 may be transmitted via a component(e.g., emulator) even though the information is not displayed. Moreover,for example, display 652 and 653 may be the same display but that aparticular interface (e.g., button) may display information on differentportions of the display.

Button 681 may be associated with a security code such that each timebutton 681 is pressed, a new security code is displayed (e.g., viadisplay 653). Permanent information 671 may be utilized to describe thefunctionality of button 681.

Button 682 may be by associated with unlocking and locking a card. Aprocessor (not shown) may look to receive a personal identification codeafter button 682 is pressed to unlock a card. Similarly, an unlockedcard may re-task a number of buttons to perform a variety of functions.Locking a card (e.g., via button 682) may cause those buttons to returnto a default state in which a processor (not shown) is looking toreceive a personal identification number. Permanent information 672 maybe associated with, for example, the functionality of button 682.

Button 683 may be associated with, for example, display 654. Button 683may be associated with, for example, display 655. The utilization ofdisplays 654 and 655 may be programmed, for example, by a user at anytime through the entry of a reconfiguration code. For example, a usermay load multiple gift cards into his/her payment card and associateeach payment card with a different display and associated button. Lightsource 693 may activate when button 683 is pressed by a user. Lightsource 692 may activate when button 684 is pressed by a user.

FIG. 7 shows control signals 710 and 720 and magnetic stripe readersense signals 730 and 740. Control signals 710 may be utilized to drive,for example, a magnetic emulator serially communicating data to amagnetic stripe reader. A magnetic emulator may be, for example, drivenby a current having a positive polarity or being able to swing between apositive and a negative polarity. Such a current may be generated, forexample, from a transistor providing a drive voltage over a driveresistor. An H-bridge may be utilized, for example, to drive currentthrough a coil in both directions.

Range 710 shows current signal 711 that is provided in a singlepolarity. A magnetic stripe reader may read the timing of phasetransversals to determine whether a one (“1”) or a zero (“0”) wasreceived. For example, a short period of time before a phase transversalmay be determined to be a particular bit of information while a longperiod of time before a phase transversal may be a different bit ofinformation. Information may be encoded using, for example, F2F encodingsuch that a magnetic stripe reader may be configured to perform F2Fdecoding to extract information.

Range 720 shows signal 721, which may be the signal sensed by a magneticstripe reader. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that signal721. Signal 721 may, for example, be provided as a series of pulses. Anincrease of current through an emulator may, for example, correspond toa positive pulse and a decrease of current through an emulator may, forexample, correspond to a negative pulse. The magnitude of a magneticstripe reader sense pulse may, for example, be correlated with the rateof change of the drive signal of a magnetic stripe emulator.Accordingly, for example, a larger rate of change may correlate tolarger sense pulses. Information may be determined at the reader by, forexample, F2F decoding. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that,for example, a longer period of a pulse may lengthen the distancebetween pulses. Decoding may, for example, determine a swipe rate (e.g.,by looking at a string of leading zero bits). A logic zero may providepulses that define the beginning and end of a LONG period of time. Thus,a string of logic zeros may allow a reader to determine the LONG periodfor that swipe. A logic one may recognized, for example, when a pulse isprovided in the middle of a LONG period of time such that the readersees two SHORT periods of time. Accordingly, changing the time betweenwhen a current increase and decrease occurs may be utilized tocommunicate a logic one or logic zero. Similarly, the amount of timebefore a current decrease and increase occurs may be utilized tocommunicate a logic one or a logic zero.

Range 730 may correlate to a current drive signal that swings between apositive and a negative polarity. As a result, the amplitude of sensesignal 741 on range 740 may be increased with respect to signal 731having the same amplitude, but a single polarity.

FIG. 8 shows magnetic emulator 800 that may be utilized, for example, tocommunicate data serially to a magnetic stripe reader. Emulator 800 mayinclude coil 811 around material 810. Material 810 may be, for example,a soft magnetic material.

Magnetic emulator 850 may be utilized, for example, to communicate dataserially to a magnetic stripe reader. Emulator 850 may include coil 861and 862 around material 860. Material 860 may be, for example, a softmagnetic material. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that theincreased number of coil turns may, for example, result in a largerelectromagnetic field. Coil 861 may be fabricated on one layer above andone layer below material 860. Coil 862 may be fabricated, for example,on a different layer above and a different layer below material 860.

FIG. 9 shows manufacturing process 900 that may be utilized, forexample, to provide a card that includes a coil (e.g., coil 990). Coil990 may take the form of birds-eye view perspective 991 and angledcross-sectional perspective 992.

Layer 910 may be provided. Coil segments 911 may be printed on, forexample, layer 910. Material 953 may be provided between layer 910 andlayer 930. Material 954 may be provided on layer 920 (e.g., printed onlayer 920). Vias may be provided on layer 920 to couple, for example,coil segments 911 to coil segments 931 of layer 930. Additional layersmay be provided. For example, layer 910 may be provided and may includeprinted contacts for interconnecting circuitry. Layer 960 may beprovided, for example, at locations 961-963. For example, layer 960 maybe provided as shown and at location 963. Each such layer may include,for example, coil segments for a second coil. Layers 910, 920, and 930may, for example, include vias for coupling the coil segments for thesecond coil together. Any layer of FIG. 9 may include contacts to, andinterconnections between, card components such as a processor, LEDs,buttons, battery, RFID, and IC chip (e.g., EMV chip).

FIG. 10 shows materials 1090 that includes material 1091 and 1093.Material 1091 may be magnetostrictive such that, for example, material1091 mechanically distorts in the presence of a magnetic field. Forexample, material 1091 may distort from a resting location to distortedlocation 1092. Material 1091 may affect an electromagnetic field asmaterial 1091 distorts. Materials 1093 may, for example, be asoft-magnetic material with zero, or substantially zero, parts permillion of magnetostriction. Material 1093 may be operable to affect anelectromagnetic field without distorting.

Person skilled in the art will appreciate that a magnetostrictivematerial may, for example, have a better performance if allowed tomechanically distort. Accordingly, for example, layer 1020 may beprovided with aperture 1054. Magnetostrictive material 1021 may beplaced within cavity 1054 such that magnetostrictive material 1021 maymechanically distort within aperture 1054. Layer 1010 may be providedwith coil segments 1011 coupled to vias on layer 1020 to couple the coilsegments on layer 1010 to layer 1030.

FIG. 11 shows card 1100 that may include, for example, permanent magnet1111 located about coil 1113. Coil 1113 may be located around material1112. Material 1112 may be, for example, a soft-magnetic material.Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that permanent magnet 1111may provide a bias magnetic field that may increase the field located atthe exterior of coil 1113 by providing bias to the field located at theexterior of coil 1113.

Cross-section 1150 may be, for example, a cross section of any type ofcard (e.g., payment card, gambling card, phone card, security accesscard). Coil 1153 may be provided, for example, to communicate dataserially to a magnetic stripe reader. Soft-magnetic material 1151 may beprovided within coil 1153. Similarly, for example, permanent magnet 1152may be provided inside of coil 1153. Soft-magnetic material 1151 may be,for example, thicker (or thinner) than magnet 1152. Similarly, forexample, soft magnetic material 1151 may be physically touchingpermanent magnet 1152 or may be separated (e.g., via an insulator).

FIG. 12 shows flow charts 1200 that may include, for example, flow chart1210, 1220, 1230, and 240. Flow chart 1210 may include step 1211, inwhich a number, such as a payment number, may be retrieved. Step 1213may determine, for example, whether the payment number is associatedwith a security code, discretionary code, a code for both security anddiscretionary data, or no code. The code may be executed in step 1213.For example, if a security code is associated with a payment number thenthe security code may be, for example, validated. As per anotherexample, if a discretionary code is associated with a payment numberthen the discretionary code may be, for example, validated. Personsskilled in the art will appreciate that no code may be associated to apayment number or only in particular instances (e.g., online purchases).Similarly, a card may have both a security component and a discretionarydata portion. A transaction (e.g., a payment transaction) may bevalidated in step 1214. Step 1215 may, for example, be included to allowfor a device to provide information to a card (e.g., via a magneticstripe emulator, RFID antenna, or IC chip).

Process 1220 may be provided. Step 1221 may be included in process 1220that may, for example, include producing an interior and two exteriorlayers. Such layers may be, for example, a printed circuit board layer(e.g., an FR4 layer). Step 1221 may include, for example, steps such aslayer printing, cutting, and testing. Step 1222 may be included to cut,for example, an aperture into the interior board layer. Such an aperturemay be sized to approximately the size of one or more materials that maybe utilized in the interior of a coil of a magnetic emulator. Theaperture may, for example, be larger than the one or more materialsutilized in the interior of a coil of a magnetic emulator. Personsskilled in the art will appreciate that such a material may be amagnetostrictive material that distorts in the presence of a magneticfield in order to provide a particular influence on that magnetic field.Accordingly, a magnetostrictive material may be utilized with, forexample, a two-dimensional coil (e.g., underneath or above) or anothertype of device (e.g., a magnetic encoder). Persons skilled in the artwill also appreciate, for example, that a magnetostrictive material maydistort if the material is placed in a cavity that is the same size asthe magnetostrictive material. A magnetostrictive material may beconfigured to distort, for example, so long as the magnetostrictivematerial is not adhered to adjacent board layers.

Step 1222 may be utilized to place a material into the aperture. Personskilled in the art will appreciate that an aperture may be cut through aboard layer and that a cut may be provided that only provides spacepartially through a board such that a trough is formed. Any material maybe placed in a space that is cut for the material. For example, apermanent magnet or non-magnetostrictive material may be placed in sucha space. In doing so, for example, a multiple layer board may be formedthat has even exterior surfaces void of bulges. Without a space, forexample, a bulge may appear. Bulges may be useful, however, in thatapertures may increase the cost of making a multiple layer card.Apertures may also be cut into layers exterior to the layer housing thematerial (e.g., all layers) in order to reduce bulges as well as providea thin card. For example, a permanent magnet may be placed outside of acoil and an aperture may be cut through all layers of the multiple layercircuit board such that a relatively thick permanent magnet may beprovided. A material and board layer including an aperture may, forexample, be configured to have substantially the same thickness. Amachine may autonomously cut spaces and place materials into thosespaces. Layers of a multiple-layer board may be adhered together in step1224 and the board may be tested in step 1225.

Process 1230 may be provided in which a single or multiple-layer board(e.g., utilizing FR4) is produced in step 1231. The board may include amagnetostrictive material and the magnetostriction of themagnetostrictive material may be tested in step 1232. Themagnetostriction of a material may be tested, for example, by providinga particular amount of current through a coil in which themagnetostrictive material resides and determining the amount ofelectromagnetic field produced by the magnetostrictive material.

The magnetism associated with a permanent magnetic included in amultiple layer board (if a permanent magnet is provided) may be testedin step 1233. Tests for any shorts, such as shorts in one or more coils,may be tested in step 1234. Boards that pass all tests may be, forexample, assembled in step 1235 by placing electrical components (e.g.,microprocessors, LEDs, oscillators, buttons, IC chips) on a board.Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that boards for cards may befabricated in sheets and assembly and lamination may also occur insheets. Programming may also be performed while cards are in sheet formas well as any additional personalization (e.g., printing andembossing). Sheets may be cut into cards at any time (e.g., after thecards are ready for mailing).

Process 1240 may be included. A single or multiple layer board may befabricated in step 1241. Non-magnetostrictive material may be tested instep 1242. Permanent magnets may be tested in step 1243.Magnetostrictive material (if provided on a board) may also be tested.Shorts may be tested for in step 1244 and boards may be assembled orsent to an assembler in step 1245.

FIG. 13 shows card 1300 that may include a number of components for usein cards such as payment cards. Card 1300 may include RFID 1312, dynamicmagnetic device 1350 (which may include one or more magnetic encoders oremulators), IC chip 1330, processor 1340, battery 1360, display 1380,biometric sensor 1320, permanent magnetic 1399, light communicationsdevice 1370 (for receiving and/or sending light-based informationsignals), sound communications device 1371 (for receiving and/or sendingsound-based information signals), and power generator 1372 (forgenerating electrical energy to recharge battery 1360). Persons skilledin the art will appreciate that additional components may be provided oncard 1300. For example, an oscillator may be provided as component 1398such that time may be kept (e.g., to assist the deployment of time-basedencryption).

FIG. 14 shows card 1400 that may include, for example, magnetic emulator1422 (e.g., for serially communicating track 1 information), magneticemulator 1423 (e.g., for serially communicating track 2 information),and permanent magnet 1424. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate,for example, that a permanent magnet may be configured to provide a biasmagnetic field that does not substantially emit from card 1300 such thatthe bias magnetic field may not substantially affect objects placedoutside of card 1400 (e.g., a static magnetic stripe of a nearby paymentcard). Furthermore, permanent magnet 1424 may be configured such thatpermanent magnet 1424 is not strong enough to, for example, eraseinformation of any nearby static magnetic stripes. Similarly, thecoercivity of such a permanent magnet may be large such that thepermanent magnet may have an expected lifespan of a relatively longperiod of time (e.g., over 10 years).

Card 1400 may include, for example, RFID 1450, battery 1410, processor1430 and EMV chip contacts 1441 and 1442 such that processor 1430 mayperform the processing of an EMV chip such that card 1400 may notinclude, for example, an EMV chip.

FIG. 15 shows control signals 1500. Range 1500 may include controlsignal 1512. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that skewingcontrol signal 1511 to produce curved signal 1512 may increase theability for a magnetic stripe reader to recognize information.Similarly, range 1530 shows control signal 1531 skewed to provide acurved control signal in both a positive and negative polarity.

FIG. 16 shows driving circuit 1600. Driving circuit 1600 may include,for example, node 1601, node 1602, transistor 1610, resistor 1620, coil1630, diode 1640, and node 1603. Persons skilled in the art willappreciate that a voltage may be coupled to note 1601. A processor maybe coupled to, for example, node 1602. processor may control when thevoltage coupled to node 1601 is coupled to resistor 1620 via transistor1610. Resistor 1620 may be utilized, for example, to provide a drivecurrent through coil 1630. Node 1603 may be coupled, for example, toground. Diode 1640 may be coupled in parallel with coil 1630 in orderto, for example, protect against voltage pulses that may be generated asthe result of the inductance of coil 1630. Coil 1630 may be provided,for example, without diode 1640.

FIG. 17 shows card 1700 that may include emulators 1720 and 1730 locatedabove a surface of permanent magnet 1710. Persons skilled in the artwill appreciate that a permanent magnet may be provided above one ormore coils and another permanent magnet may be provided below, forexample, those one or more coils. Persons skilled in the art willappreciate that a permanent magnet may be polarized and oriented in anumber of ways. For example, arrangement 1750 may be provided in whichsoft-magnetic material 1170 may be provide adjacent to permanent magnet1760. Permanent magnet 1760 may be polarized such that region 1761 hasone pole (e.g., a North pole) and region 1762 has another pole (e.g., aSouth pole). Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that materialsmay be polarized to form a permanent magnet. For example, a polarizedmetal, such as a magnetized steel allow, may be utilized.

Card portion 1770 shows layer 1771, 1772 and 1773. A cavity may beprovided, for example, by cutting out a portion of layer 1772. Amaterial (e.g., magnetostrictive material 1775 may be provided in thecavity. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that, for example,apertures may be provided (e.g., aperture 1781 of layer 1771 andaperture 1782 of layer 1773). Such apertures may, for example, beprovided before board layers are adhered together in order to, forexample, prohibit a vacuum from forming inside of a cavity. Similarly,for example, apertures may be cut after a board is adhered to remove avacuum from forming in a cavity. Such apertures may also be utilized totest characteristics of material 1781 as well as an associated device(e.g., a dynamic magnetic communications device). For example, testingprobes may be placed in such apertures to determine, for example, ifmaterial 1781 shorted to other circuitry. Any number of apertures may beprovided in any number of locations. A board having apertures may be,for example, laminated over after testing. For example, a board may belaminated via injection molding.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that data may be transferred,such as gift card and/or pre-paid card data, to a card in a variety ofways. For example, a card may be swiped a second time through a magneticstripe reader that includes a magnetic stripe encoder. A coil on thecard may be utilized to receive the information and provide the receivedinformation to a processor. In doing so, information may be loaded intothe card. Similarly, an IC chip may be utilized to receive data as wellas a passive or active RFID. Additionally, one or more microphones maybe included to receive audio information that may be representative ofdata. Accordingly, for example, a user may hold his/her card, or otherdevice, next to a device that is operable to transmit audio via aspeaker (e.g., laptop, stationary computer, or mobile telephonicdevice). The audio information may be discerned by the card and utilizedto load information into the card (e.g., a gift card or pre-paid card.An application may also be loaded that enhances the functionality of thecard. Such an application may include, for example, a user's medicalinformation such that medical information can be displayed via the card(or other device) during a medical emergency. Accordingly, applicationsand/or payment cards may be purchased online and a speaker maycommunicate information to a card. Similarly, the card may include aspeaker for transmitting information such that bi-directionalcommunications are established. A light detector may be provided on acard that may receive light pulses indicative of data. Accordingly, forexample, a user may hold a card up to a display—such as the screen of alaptop, stationary computer, or mobile phone—and information may becommunicated from the display to the card via the light detector.Similarly, a light source may be utilized to communicate informationfrom one device to another. For example, a light source (e.g., LED) maybe utilized to communicate information from one card to another.Similarly, a magnetic stripe reader may include a light source. A cardmay be positioned over the light source such that a light detector ofthe card is aligned with the light source to receive light. Accordingly,the light of a magnetic stripe reader (or other type of reader) may beutilized to communicate information back to a card. A user may utilizeinterfaces on the card (e.g., buttons) to initiate a transfer of datafrom one card to another card or from a device to a card. A variety oftypes of data may be communicated. For example, money may becommunicated from one debit card to another debit card such thatpayments may occur between the cards. Accordingly, for example, the nexttime a card is utilized via a reader (e.g., a magnetic stripe reader)information of the transfer may be communicated to a server forprocessing. Light may be utilized to transfer data from a card to acomputer using, for example, a camera (e.g., webcam) on the computer.Sound may be utilized to transfer data from a card to a computer using,for example, a microphone on the computer.

A display may also be utilized as an interface. For example, a displaymay include a contact and an electronic ink. The electronic ink maychange colors in response to, for example, a particular electricalsignal being supplied to the contact. A capacitive sensor may be coupledto such a contact, however, such that a user interaction with thecontact may be sensed by the capacitive sensor. Accordingly, a card mayinclude a display that can also receive user input. Persons skilled inthe art will appreciate that a display may include multiple contacts.For example, a display may include multiple 7-segment (e.g., to displaydigits) or 11-segment, 14-segment, or 16-segment (e.g., to displayalphanumerics) regions where each segment may be coupled to a capacitivesensor.

A biometric sensor may be placed on a card or other device. Such abiometric sensor may be, for example, a fingerprint reader. Accordingly,one or more fingerprints may be stored in the memory of a card andcompared to scanned fingerprints. Different fingerprints may activatethe card differently (e.g., utilize a different user's payment cardinfo).

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a user's payment cardnumber (e.g., credit card or debit card number) does not have to change.A display may hide this payment card number until an appropriateunlocking code is entered into buttons of the card. Similarly, amagnetic emulator may not be provided current until the proper unlockingcode is entered—thus keeping magnetic information private and notallowing undesirable readers to read a card. A security code may bedisplayed on the same or a different display. A button may be providedrepresentative of an online purchase (or a user may utilize buttons toinstruct the processor that an online purchase is desirable). For suchan online purchase, the credit card number and the security code may bedisplayed—but the magnetic emulator may not be activated. In doing so,the level of security of the card is increased. Furthermore, forexample, a button may be provided representative of in-store purchases(or a user may utilize buttons to instruct the processor that anin-store purchase is desirable). Accordingly, a processor may besignaled that an in-store purchase is desired. A different operation maybe associated with different types of purchases (e.g., online orin-store). Accordingly, for example, magnetic emulators may be activatedfor an in-store environment—but not the displays. Accordingly, forexample, a restaurant cashier may not be able to read the credit cardnumber from the card, but may still be able to swipe the card. If areader is down or a cashier requires reading particular information(e.g., a security code or credit card number information) then controlsmay be utilized to communicate this information. A record of the typesof transactions may be stored and may be communicated in discretionaryfields of data within a transmitted data track. Such record informationmay be utilized, for example, to further increase security and/orintroduce a variety of additional functionality.

Different types of cards may be provided on a card. For example, asecurity ID number and a credit card number may both be provided on thesame card. A button may be utilized to allow a user to provideinstruction to a processor such that the processor can display (e.g.,visually and/or magnetically) the desired information. For example, auser may determine to use one of a variety of payment accounts (e.g.,credit and/or debit) for a purchase. An entire payment number (e.g.,credit or debit) may be changed and/or hidden visually and/ormagnetically. A portion of a payment card number (e.g., credit or debit)may be changed and/or hidden visually and/or magnetically.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a display on the cardmay display a credit card number that does not change with time (ortransaction or button press). Additionally, for example, a magneticemulator (or multiple magnetic emulators) may magnetically communicatefinancial data that does not change with time. Such a card may reduce,for example, the effects of physical card theft and card cloning.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that any numbers of a creditcard number may remain static and/or change either with time or basedoff a transaction (e.g., by sensing a read-head “swipe”). Additionally,any static and/or dynamic numbers may be displayed via a display orprinted on a card. For example, a middle 6 digits of a credit/debit cardnumber may be static and may be displayed on a display. Such a middle 6digits may be displayed, for example, upon the entry of a correct PIC.Similarly, a magnetic emulator may not communicate information until acorrect PIC has been entered by a user. Doing so may, for example,reduce fraud associated with card cloning. Additionally, a receipt maybe provided that includes masked credit card numbers except for the lastfew digits of credit card numbers. Accordingly, displaying a staticmiddle 6 digits of credit card numbers may allow for such a receipt tobe provided while still reducing credit card fraud from hiding numbersthat are not displayed on such a receipt. Any amount of numbers and/orcharacters may be displayed through a display. For example, nineteendigits may be displayed as part of a credit/debit numbers and thesenumbers may also be communicated through one or more magnetic emulationcircuits. The entry of particular PICs may provide different results.For example, a first PIC may only display a string of alphanumericcharacters. A second PIC may only activate a magnetic emulation circuitto transmit information including that string of alphanumeric characters(or a different string). A third PIC may activate a magnetic emulationcircuit and a display. A display and/or magnetic emulation circuit maybe turned OFF, for example, upon entry of an incorrect PIC and/or aftera period of time has passed since the entry of the PIC and/or after thedetection of a particular number of swipes by a read-head detector(e.g., one or two).

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a credit/debit cardnumber (or any other information) may remain static until an eventoccurs and then may become dynamic (e.g., change based on swipes and/ortime). For example, a particular PIC may change from a static to adynamic topology and/or a topology may be changed from static to dynamicafter a pre-determined period of time. Additionally a card and/or devicemay include a wireless receiver and a topology may be changed from astatic to a dynamic topology upon, for example, receiving an appropriatesignal from the wireless receiver. Accordingly, a validation process maychange at a validation server depending upon whether a card is utilizinga static and/or dynamic topology at any given time. Additionally, astatic credit/debit card number may be printed on the face of a card andinformation (e.g., a security code) may be displayed via a display andremain static over time (or with use) or be provided dynamically.

A card or other device (e.g., a mobile telephone) may accept apre-determined number of consecutive incorrect PICs before locking thecard for a period of time or until an appropriate secondary PIC isentered. Accordingly, a user may enter in an incorrect PIC a number oftimes and then, after a card becomes locked, call a support center for asecondary one-time use PIC. A card may cycle through unlocking PICsbased, for example, on time or the number of previous unlock attempts.

FIG. 18 shows personal electronic device 1800 which may be, for example,a portable telephonic device, portable media player, or any type ofelectronic device. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that thefunctionality of a card may be provided on a personal device anddisplayed through a graphical user interface. Personal electronic device1800 may include, for example, user inputs 1840 and display 1810.Virtual card 1820 may be displayed on display 1820. Display 1820 may bea touch-sensitive display such that, for example, virtual button 1830may be provided on virtual card 1820. Persons skilled in the art willappreciate that cards may be provided as virtual cards and a user mayinteract with such virtual cards in order to provide a variety offunctions. Personal electronic device 1800 may communicate to a cardreader such as, for example, an RFID reader.

A display may be bi-stable or non bi-stable. A bi-stable display mayconsume electrical energy to change the information displayed on thebi-stable display but may not consume electrical energy to maintain thedisplay of that information. A non bi-stable display may consumeelectrical energy to both change and maintain information on the nonbi-stable display. A display driving circuit may be provided, forexample, for a bi-stable display (or a non bi-stable display). Such adisplay driving circuit may step-up a supply voltage (e.g., 1-5 volts)to a larger voltage (e.g., 6-15 volts) such that a bi-stable display maychange displayed information. A controller (e.g., a processor) may beutilized to control such a display driving circuit. Persons skilled inthe art will appreciate that a display may be configured to displaynumerical data or alphanumerical data. A display may also be configuredto display other indicia (e.g., the image of a battery and its remaininglife).

A magnetic stripe reader may, for example, determine information on amagnetic stripe by detecting the frequency of changes in magnetic fields(e.g., flux transversals). A particular frequency of flux transversalsmay correlate to, for example, a particular information state (e.g., alogic “1” or a logic “0”). Accordingly, for example, a magnetic emulatormay change the direction of an electromagnetic field at particularfrequencies in order to communicate a different state of information(e.g., a logic “1” or a logic “0”).

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate, for example, that a card mayinclude an IC chip (e.g., EMV chip), RFID, and a dynamic magneticcommunications device (e.g., a magnetic emulator or encoder). The sameinformation may be communicated through, for example, any number of suchdevices (e.g., a dynamic magnetic communications device, RFID, and anEMV chip). A central processor may cause each device to communicate theinformation (in the same format or a different format). Each componentmay have its own processor or driving circuitry. Such individualprocessors or driving circuitry may be coupled to a central processor.An EMV chip may be utilized, for example, to provide control signals toother devices (e.g., circuitry driving a display as well as a dynamicmagnetic communications device). Such an EMV chip may receive signalsprovided by one or more buttons to determine, for example, that aparticular button, or sequence of buttons, was pressed by a user.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a magnetic emulator mayelectromagnetically communicate information serially by changing themagnitude of an electromagnetic field with respect to time. As such, forexample, a current in a single direction may be provided through amagnetic emulator in order for that magnetic emulator to generate anelectromagnetic field of a single direction and a particular magnitude.The current may then be removed from the magnetic emulator such that,for example, the electromagnetic field is removed. The creation of apresence of an electromagnetic field, and the removal of thatelectromagnetic field, may be utilized to communicate information to,for example, a magnetic stripe reader. A magnetic stripe reader may beconfigured to read, for example, the change in flux versus time and mayassociate an increase in an electromagnetic field (e.g., creation of afield) as one flux transversal and a decrease (e.g., removal of a field)as another transversal. In doing so, for example, driving circuitry (notshown) may be provided which, in turn, controls when current is providedto a magnetic emulator. The timing of magnetic flux transversals, asdetermined by a magnetic stripe reader, may be utilized by that readerto determine whether a logic one (“1”) or logic zero (“0”) wascommunicated. Accordingly, a driving circuit may change the frequency ofwhen current is supplied and removed from a magnetic emulator in orderto communicate a logic one (“1”) or a logic zero (“0”).

A driving circuit may, for example, change the direction of currentsupplied to a magnetic emulator to increase the amount of change in anelectromagnetic field magnitude for a period of time. In doing so, forexample, a magnetic stripe reader may more easily be able to discernoverall changes in an electromagnetic field and, as such, may moreeasily be able to discern information. As such, for example, a drivingcircuit may increase the magnitude of an electromagnetic field byproviding negative current, decrease the amount of negative currentuntil no current is provided and provide an increasing positive currentin order to provide a large swing in the magnitude of an electromagneticfield. Similarly, a driving circuit may switch from providing one amountof negative current (or positive current) to one amount of positivecurrent (or negative current).

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a string of a particularbit of data (e.g., a string of logic zeros “0s”) may be communicatedbefore as well as after information is communicated through a magneticemulator. A magnetic stripe reader may utilize such data, for example,to determine base timing information such that the magnetic stripereader has a timing reference that the reader can utilize to assist indetermining timing changes of perceived flux transversals. Accordingly,for example, a magnetic emulator may send data at different overallfrequencies and a magnetic stripe reader may be able to reconfigureitself to receive data at such overall frequencies. Information may beencoded using, for example, Frequency/Double Frequency (F2F) encodingsuch that magnetic stripe readers may perform, F2F decoding.

A processor may control one or more emulators by, for example,controlling the direction of the current supplied through one or moresegments of an emulator. By changing the direction of current through aregion, for example, the direction of an electromagnetic field may bechanged. Similarly, a processor may control one or more emulators by,for example, controlling the change in magnitude of current suppliedthrough one or more segments of an emulator. As such, for example, aprocessor may increase the magnitude of current as well as decrease themagnitude of current supplied through an emulator. A processor maycontrol the timing of such increases and decreases in current such thata magnetic emulator may, for example, communicate F2F encodedinformation.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a dynamic magneticcommunications device (e.g., a magnetic emulator or magnetic encoder)may be fabricated, either completely or partially, in silicon andprovided as a silicon-based chip. Other circuitry (e.g., drivingcircuitry) may also be fabricated on such a silicon-based chip. Aprocessor, such as a processor for controlling a magnetic communicationsdevice, may be, for example, a programmable processor having on-boardprogrammable non-volatile memory (e.g., FLASH memory), volatile memory(e.g., RAM), as well as a cache. Firmware as well as payment information(e.g., dynamic numbers) may be, for example, communicated from aprogramming device to a processor's on-board programmable non-volatilememory (e.g., a FLASH memory) such that a card may provide a variety offunctionalities. Such a processor may also have one or more power-savingoperating modes, in which each operating mode turns OFF a different setof circuitry to provide different levels of power consumption. One ormore power-savings modes may turn OFF, for example, one or more clockingcircuitry provided on a processor. An Application-Specific IntegratedCircuit (ASIC) may also be included in a card or other device toprovide, for example, processing, dynamic magnetic communications, aswell as driving capabilities.

Persons skilled in the art will also appreciate that the presentinvention is not limited to only the embodiments described. Instead, thepresent invention more generally involves dynamic information. Personsskilled in the art will also appreciate that the apparatus of thepresent invention may be implemented in other ways then those describedherein. All such modifications are within the scope of the presentinvention, which is limited only by the claims that follow.

1-9. (canceled)
 10. A card comprising: an electronic device operable toserially communicate data to an external device comprising: a firstlayer of flexible printed circuit board; a second layer of flexibleprinted circuit board, wherein a coil is provided across said first andsecond layers; and a material located between said first layer and saidsecond layer, wherein no permanent magnet is located inside of saidcoil.